Following yesterday’s news that a same-sex couple hoping to get married on a cruise were unable to as the company is registered in Bermuda which prohibits them from conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies, Tony Brannon has started an online petition calling for the Bermuda Government to “Legalize Same Sex Marriage and implement a complete and full Human Rights for all Bermuda citizens & visitors.”

Mr Brannon — a well known tourism advocate and local entertainer — told Bernews, “It was a few years ago that Bermuda created a firestorm of attention with the Rosie O’Donnell Gay Cruise to Bermuda. The homophobes of Bermuda successfully scared off these fine folks and along with it, tourism dollars.

“Why is it that Bermuda is always last to the party on just about everything?” said Mr. Brannon. “Bermuda was last to take credit cards in hotels. Bermuda was last to get rid of MAP meal plans in hotels. Bermuda is late to gaming. Bermuda is being passed by, so many countries now support same sex marriage. When a country is last to the party, it invariably will come last.”

Should Bermuda legalize same-sex marriage?

Yes we should!

No we should not!

I don't agree with marriage, but support offering a civil ceremony/union

Yesterday, international websites reported that Jaqui Chapman, who has been on 40 P&O cruises, planned to marry her partner on board a P&O ship this September and was disappointed to learn she was unable to, with a P&O spokesperson saying: “We welcome all passengers on board. Unfortunately, Bermuda law prohibits us from conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies, but we can certainly offer same-sex vow renewals on board carried out by the captain.”

According to a poll conducted last year by Profiles of Bermuda, nearly 6 in 10 Bermuda voters [58.5%] oppose same-sex marriages, while 4 in 10 [38.4%] were in favour of such marriages and 3.2% were unsure; with younger voters [between the ages of 18 and 34] more likely to support same-sex marriages [58.2%], the only age group to do so.

In June 2013, MPs passed an amendment to the Human Rights Act to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. During the session PLP MP Wayne Furbert brought forward a proposed change to the amendment trying to specifically exclude it from pertaining to marriage. The motion was defeated with all OBA MPs that were present and three PLP MPs [Walter Roban, Walton Brown, Michael Scott] voting it down by a margin of 18-12.

However, as Minister Bob Richards pointed out at that time, the Human Rights Amendment has nothing to do with marriage, as marriage is dealt with in separate legislation. “We have a Marriage Act,” said Minister Richards. “So if anything was going to be done about changing the ability of people to get married, of the same sex, it would have to be done to the Marriage Act not to the Human Rights Act.”

The petition started by Mr Brannon says, “The number of places overseas where same-sex couples are allowed to marry is not only increasing but accelerating: The Netherlands [2001], Belgium [2003], Canada [provincially beginning in 2003, nationally in 2005], Massachusetts [2004], Spain [2005], South Africa [2006], Connecticut [2008], Iowa [2009], Vermont [2009], New Hampshire [2009], Norway [2009], Sweden [2009], Mexico City [2009], Argentina [2010], US District of Columbia [2010], Portugal [2010], Iceland [2010] and New York state [US] [2011].”

Exactly. A legal contract. You may choose to “sanctify” your marriage in a church, but it’s not required. If you don’t like same-sex marriage, don’t marry someone of the same sex. It’s none of your business. Wake up, Bermuda! In 20 years your children and grandchildren will be saying, “Why all the fuss?”

I first quote: “The Devil is a very real component in all of this lest we forget God gave him power to rule for a time and we are still in that time obviously!God is not a God of confusion and therefore all things will come to pass before He appears etc.” As you’ve stated,(the bible states) that God gave Satin the power to rule for a time. If God has such power then why not eliminate the devil from “jump street” instead of allowing there be so much ignorance from the very beginning of time and causing billions of “people” to suffer… Does the God like to make people suffer? and why has “God” allowed this mess to continue. Where is the love?

Marriage was originally a way of getting in-laws, of making alliances and expanding the family labor force. It wasn’t until relatively recently that the church got involved in any way. And it wasn’t until the 13th century that the church said that couples had to post banns. Until then all that had to happen was for the two individuals to declare to each other that they were married. Until the 16th century the church simply accepted a couple’s word that they were married – no ceremony, not witnesses, nothing. And the Catholic Church decided that it was a sacrament [probably in response to the Protestants who did not].

“a bee needs pollen an egg needs a seed”? This is a joke, right? Scientific inaccuracies aside, I understand what you’re trying to say – marriage is for propagation. So, by your twisted logic, the next time a 60 year-old woman who had a hysterectomy wants to marry a 65 year-old man it shouldn’t be allowed. And younger couples who want to wait a few years until they’re ready for children should be forced to have sex continually until the joyous event occurs – maybe some kind of government monitoring system could be implemented. Marriage has nothing to do with propagation. Heterosexual SEX is for propagation. And as for all the people quoting the Bible – there are many people around the world who don’t give a sweet Jesus in the manger about the Bible, or any religious ceremony of any kind. It’s called a civil ceremony, Einstein. Look it up.

@Bda mike–thats because the Bible was not written for everyone around the globe, if you read it you will see all throughout it was written for a peculiar people, who have no leader and have been specifically chosen by the Creator to abide by His stattes and commandments. And you may not think they care but they are more aware of the contents of the bible than we are over here, which explains why some of us are treated with indifference towards them..Most people would be surprised at what has been hidden…

I never said the rules apply to everyone mike, if um bothering you quoting My Bible than good! Um tired of reading lies and fabrication so the truth appeals to me more, not forcing it on anyone coz all are free to read but it was specifically written for the Israelites mentioned in it, as it contains our history..I Don’t expect for you to like or understand, if you are the”rest” of “us” then you wanna be out of it ok..Obadiah 1..from The Most High..

People in this island get all upset when someone has a different view whether it is political or social.

I wish everyone would understand that everyone will not and cannot share the same views as everyone else. We all aren’t clones walking around. We are individuals with our own set of motives, beliefs and values.

Well we all agree with that, it’s an obvious yes. But what has it got to do with my comment? Let’s be honest, this is because I said “shout down the religious bigots” and if you need evidence on that one read some of the ugly, dated comments below.

Let’s put it another way then. If you choose to follow the bible, that’s fine, but stop throwing it at me why this perfectly reasonable legislation shouldn’t happen.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. COR 6 9:11

Brannon and his ilk fit into these above categories doesn’t he.

The LORD of all creation decrees Homosexuality to be an abomination but we silly men know better? DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY LUCIFER (the prince of light) AND HIS MINIONS SUCH AS BRANNON – they will assuredly lead you to a path of destruction.

I know that the majority of the world despised GOD, Jesus Christ and his followers – and look at the world for it! Death, destruction, curruption and lies everywhere satan and his “Elite” followers have their claws entrenched –

The non believers like to blame the LIVING GOD for these wickedness’s played out on humanity but it is not the LOVING GOD it is the devil – stop being so foolish

Why is it that any time someone tries to give facts from the Bible (a source which we believe in) those who don’t believe in it refer to it as hateful? I see Mr Brannon posted sources for his information. So why can’t a Christian or someone who chooses to follows God’s word do the same? FACT: Yes, some people who claim to believe in God, will use the Bible to “perpetuate their hatred”, however, that is NOT the way of the Christian. Those people who may claim to be Christian really are not. Because of this I encourage you to pick up the Bible and read it for yourself. Just because people can contaminate a source doesn’t mean the source isn’t true. The Bible doesn’t only speak to homosexuals not entering into Heaven. The same goes for ALL that God says is a sin. Be informed. Read it yourself…but when you read, read with the intent to gain knowledge. The Bible says my people perish because of lack of knowledge.

They can’t…all they can do is cherry pick quotes from the bible, a book they barely understand. They don’t get the fact that not everyone has been brainwashed by that particular fairy tale. they don’t have the intelligence to see beyond what they’ve been taught, hence they will never grow as humans, and will perpetuate their fear of the unknown instead of learning about the world around them.

Mr Hind, as far as I see, whenever a Christian stands up for his/her belief, they are referred to as hateful or anything of the likes. So are you suggesting that Christians remain quiet on popular issues of the day? From what I see, many times if something severe happens in society, many are quick to say “Well where is the church in all this? Why haven’t they stepped in?” So it is a catch 22 situation. The world is in the state that it is in not solely because of the church, but because people have turned to all sorts of “gods” they feel they must have in order compensate for what they really desire, and that is God himself. God ordained the institution of family, and the first marriage ceremony between Adam and Eve. When the family structure breaks down (when we break away from God’s original intent), then we create a mess. NOT saying that homosexuals are not just as happy as heterosexuals- although that is a separate conversation in itself. But it is the belief of the Christian church, that people who follow the homosexual lifestyle are wrong. How we go about having dialogue about this is were it all seems to break down. People are free to believe whatever they want. Like I said, God gave us all the power of choice. The same way I (as a Christian) will listen and act in love because of respect for all humans, we would like the same respect when we talk.

As I’ve said, ad nauseum, it’s not about standing up for your beliefs. You can believe whatever you like. You can also speak out and say whatever you like. However, that latter freedom also comes with other people’s freedom to say what THEY like about what you said. You can’t call for freedom of speech and then complain when other people exercise theirs to call you hateful or anything of the like. The problem isn’t that you should remain quiet. It’s that religious people USE their personal beliefs to deny rights to other people. There isn’t equivalence on the two sides. On the marriage equality side, you get some people who call names and say insulting things. On the other side, you have people demanding that other people follow the rules of their religion, to the point where they argue for discrimination and the denial of rights.

As for the definition of marriage… Adam and Eve is part of your religion. It shouldn’t be part of a conversation about marriage. The bible has several different definitions of marriage. As for “the family structure breaking down” and “breaking away from God’s original intent”: Again, this is part of your religion and, unless you think it’s ok to force other people to follow the rules of your religion (in which case, I have to ask if you have a problem with the idea of someone else forcing YOU to follow the rules of their religion…), it has no place in the conversation. Oh, and the folks we’re talking about are trying to START families! They’r trying to create a family in their own way.

Do you have a reason to stop them from doing this that DOESN’T involve them having to follow the rules of your religion?

If you want to have a respectful conversation, then show some respect and stop denying your fellow citizens their rights.

So all I will ask is, if I pick my daughter up from school, and she asks why does Sammy have 2 dads. What should my answer be? If the answer to that question is “because his 2 dads love each other”, then I ask, wouldn’t this create a high level of confusion with my child as well as probably others? You see, what my problem is, is the forced way in which we are expected to accept this contrary lifestyle. I agree that there are some Christians who use this same method to get people to agree with them, BUT that is not as was not God’s plan. Trust me, I will respect anyone regardless. But the source Christians believe in states that utter destruction took place over many nations when those nations turned their back on God’s plan and decided their way is the right way. I would prefer this NOT to happen. We have seen many examples that when a nation turns its back on God, then there is a price to pay. How many times will we continue to turn a blind eye to his dislike of our chosen lifestyle?

I can’t tell if it’s funny or sad that you can almost directly correlate how unstable a country is by how religious they are. The top rankers are all some of the most secular places on this planet, what a riot.

Why do you think slavery was allowed? and there are a group of people suffering because of what their ancestors participated in, still today there are slaves,,, The Creator Allowed us to go into captivity, although he did not condone the treatment and has promised to return the “favor”for the 12 tribes of the NATION of Yisreal who were and still are subjected to a chattel system also known as slavery, there has been no recompense from our oppressors and that is why we as a nation of “blacks” continue to suffer under a supremacy system that does not respect us and has taken away our history by changing names and geography and misleading people into thinking that there is no Creator.ome people live in an illusion and think everything is ok because of a dillusion of freedom, I ask those people to examine who gets away with murdering.. men and gets away with it finding themselves not guilty, who supplies the guns for our own men to kill themselves, .. The Nation that God chose to suffer until He Redeems us , only then will we be free because the delusion right now is too great for us to fix the problem ourselves, too much confusion in the world today..

What would you say if your daughter asked why Johnny’s parents got divorced? Or why Billy’s dad is in jail?

Believe it or not, many if not most kids have a better understanding and acceptance of what some adults would consider a deviation from the societal norm. Kids aren’t as brainwashed by a 2000 year old book.

The funny thing is the Bible says lots of things and has lots of rules. But if you tell them a rule they don’t like and that they should follow it, they will tell you why it isn’t relative today…its so ridiculous……

We have outgrown the Bible? So the signs of the end times prophecies mean nothing to you? There are so many signs that are still happening today. As someone who has read the Bible, wouldn’t you say that it is way more than ironic that many of these signs are taking place today? - False teachers/prophets misrepresenting the Bible for personal gain (2nd Peter 2:1-3) - Mankind being able to destroy all life (St Matthew 24:21-22) - Chaotic weather (St Luke 21:25-26) - Wars (St Mark 13:7-8) - Violence (Genesis 6:11-13) - Deadly diseases (St Matthew 24:7) - Famines would be common (St Luke 21:11) The list can go on Kayla. Have we really “outgrown” the Bible?

You know we have evidence of wars centuries older than the bible ( http://www.historyofwar.org/wars.html) and conflict is as natural in humans as, well, sex. Catastrophic weather (http://worldtimeline.info/weather/) happened a many a time over, and we’ve got lots of evidence of giant storms, volcanic blasts, mini ice ages, etc in our history – global warming is an undeniable new force, but that’s pretty clearly our fault. And we’ve literally never been better at fighting things like famine ( http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines) and illness. We gotten so good we’ve actually extended our natural lifespans!

Like of course you’re gonna always see signs of the end times when your signs are…bad things that have always happened to humans are gonna continue to happen, ooooh scary, great parlor trick.

No explanation needed, world history shows us examples of such. In the last century alone What do you think was being said during the 1st & or 2nd World Wars?. How about Desert Storm 1 & 2? Well it was Armageddon this and that.

Lots of injustice in the world, Chaotic Weather events, Volcanoes erupting, famine, disease, death… Its not hard to find examples.

Matthew 16:27-28 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Jesus claimed he would return 2,000 years ago…yet we are still here…..

I don’t know when jesus made that claim but God said Isiah (43vs11) He is the Lord and beside Him there is no saviour, and if you read from the first verse the whole chapter God explains what he has done will do and who he is doing it for, and who is the Holy One The Creator of Israel… As for dates and read (2nd Peter 3vs8,9) also 2nd Peter chapter 2 the chapter speaks of false prophets..

SO, where do you buy your kosher food? Where do you get clothing that is guaranteed to not be made of a mixed fabric? Do you sit in the dark on Friday night? You pick and choose which commandment to observe; some of them you are completely ignorant of. Don’t think you are any kind of authority on the bible because you are not. You’ve no doubt never even read it in it’s original language.

I don’t have to eat “Kosher ” food you idiot, you obviously have not read the Bible coz it probably is not for you and written on your behalf, but it does contain a judgement for you whether you like it or not, it is THE MOST HIGH and no other can usurp it or come close.. The Creator only speaks to His Chosen so if you are not getting understanding from it you are not sincere and do not seek truth.. go on and enjoy lalaland.. its only temporary.did you read any of your books from YOIUR original language. Do you know any other book that when translated still remains prophetic and True? Psalm 82..

uh quite false. God gave everyone the power of choice. Far different than “making gay folk”. You make a decision and say God did that is putting our way of thinking on the same level as God’s which couldn’t be further from the truth

So tell me when you woke up and said.. “Oh.. yes that is it.. I choose to be Straight!” And if you did, then that would mean you had some urges that you questioned…. You like what you like… you didnt chose it, you just knew it… well guess what.. it works that way for gay people too.. imagine that!!

That’s a pile of poo poo mate. Its like some people were made to be able to drink milk, and with others it gives them horrendous diarrhea. Its just they way they were created by the Big Guy. If you don’t get that then you are suffering from a horrendous case of verbal diarrhea.

Actually, the original punishment back in Moses’ time stated that both parties to the adultery should be stoned. Even back then, there was evolution/revision of the Law – by Jesus’ time, they were only stoning the women. But then, what else can one expect? Women in the Bible get blamed and punished for everything…all the way back to Eve

Man wrote the Bible. Didn’t man also write the laws of government? If they’re both written by man, why would he write one thing and then organize something completely different to govern ppl? Wouldn’t you expect the two to be more similar?

thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thous shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour..ect.. sounds a lot like our legislation to me..Man that were guided by the HOLY SPIRIT OF Yeshua wrote the Bible thats why no one else can take or add to it, thats why names were changed so that the people spoken of would not know who they are Psalm 83…Truth!

It’s translated from an ancient language into modern English without consideration for the context or the fact that we can only guess at the political, cultural and colloquial impact on the original words.

So how about we just stick with the major suggestions of loving one’s neighbour as one does oneself, and treat them as one would want to be treated, and let God do the judging, because if I recall correctly He’s the only one who gets to do that.

I hope in your version of the after life you find exactly what your looking for. To be surround by all person you judge as worthy. How much do you spend in Windex to keep your glass house clean? I would like to know because you are the first to throw stones.

“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7

Well if you wanna play that game, it is time to start using the ENTIRE book.. not just the parts that allow you to wield YOUR sword…..

In relation to a woman not being a virgin on her wedding day……

Deuteronomy 22:20-21King James Version

20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:

21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

Anyone can use the words for their own purpose…. it is not YOUR JOB to save the world… worry about what goes inside your own walls not those of others…. only one is set to judge and I assure you it is not YOU!

REALLY!!! Well if you’re going to be a bible beater, do it all the way! Last I checked, the Bible also says in John 8:5 that adulterers are to be stoned to death. Well, if you want to be so literal, I see LOTS of people on this island being lined up for such. If you’re going to be selective, then take a seat and shaddup!

C James…take it easy buddy! I copy/pasted those words from http://biblehub.com/leviticus/20-13.htm…check it out. There’s more than one version/interpretation of the Bible…2000 plus years old, many translations, etc. I def don’t have the authority to rewrite the good book

Oh @reefs…yes, there are a lot more rules in the Bible! Check out Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy…lots of rules! Crazy…very specific as well.

It’s actually a really good book…it’s not all “Jesus saves” and whatnot…a lot of drama, sex, murder, scandal, war, suspense, etc. Proverbs is really nice…good wisdom to live by. To summarize the Bible, it basically says to either follow Gods law or burn in hell forever. Please excuse the believers for believing this and wishing your soul to not burn in hell forever. However, if you choose not to believe what’s written in the Bible, well then don’t say they didn’t warn you…

Egotistical, selfish, and a bully….maybe to some(specifically those who don’t agree with what’s written)….but def jealous tho! Def add that to your list!

But it’s not just follow me or burn in hell…sorry…more like follow me and receive everything you could ever possibly need on earth and after death or THEN burn in hell…big difference.

King Solomon is a good example…arguably the WEALTHIEST and wisest king to ever rule in the history books. Why? Because he made his laws, Gods laws…and God rewarded him over and over again. He’s actually the author of Proverbs, again, really good book, lots of wisdom. But then Solomon started worshiping false gods, and jealous God wasn’t having any of that..so Solomon couldn’t be king anymore.

Ps. Good job referencing a portion of the source to suit your own agenda. The majority of the book is about how to follow God and stories of those who do and don’t. A small part specifically discusses the consequences. If the devil wrote it, don’t you think the entire book would be about how to not follow God? Also, it’s def not “MY religion” lol. I’m just sharing whats written in the Bible. Don’t worry, Jesus is coming back soon, hang in there

It’s not that simple though. For example, the Bible is full of passages where God is commanding the Israelites to destroy towns and all people living there without even considering who is innocent or not. Someone could question, is that the sign of a ‘just’ God?

Great point! You’re assuming there were innocent ppl though. There are examples of people that were innocent that God saved aren’t there? Abraham and his family, Noah and his family…it IS that simple tho…you either follow His laws or you don’t. To reference the New Testament and Jesus…you can’t serve two masters (God and the world)…and those who are not for you are against you. Even Jesus himself referenced the Old Testament, the 10 Commandments, and the other laws of Moses.

It takes a little more than just believing in Jesus. How many people believe in Him, but only show up to church at Christmas and Easter? That belief must be practiced in every word, action and deed…easier said than done right? Jesus is literally the “Word made flesh”. His “DNA” is the scriptures of the Old Testament (that’s a metaphor lol). To believe in Him IS to believe in the Old Testament. The New Covenant is not a replacement, but a continuation of the previous.

It is always interesting to me that people who call themselves Christian, meaning followers of Christ, who brought the New Covenant, continue to quote the Old Testament, rather than living by Jesus’ commandment to love others as you love yourself. He also promised that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Belief is the criteria, not heterosexual love.

Bible Thumper: So you read it on the internet then?? Must be true i guess. Just which version of the Bible should we believe if there are so many. A maximum of one (just one) can be true and the rest BS.

Hi reefs…apologies, i tried copy/pasting the whole Bible but the Bernews comment window doesn’t allow that much space. Usually when you reference a source you only use the info relevant to your writing anyway. No hatred here…”love thy neighbor as thyself, right? I love gay ppl…love everyone! Jesus said to “love the sinner, hate the sin.” Easier said than done sometimes, agree? Tough to show mercy to ppl who hate, kill, lie, cheat, and so on…love them anyway!

Did I not quote the Bible in the first place? Everyone in the world of research knows that there is def more to referencing a source than just quoting it. And if you’re not using a source to “suit your agenda”(whatever the case), then why are you even referencing it? Lol. If I have paraphrased, testify to that which I paraphrased. If not, then why do you imply that I paraphrased to suit my own agenda? My agenda was to provide quotes from the Bible…and I did. It is finished. *And with that Bible Thumper Bob gave up his energy and went to bed…but not before praying for his new friend Umum*

Show me where in the bible is mentions ‘sexual relations”. If you have a version that mentions this then it was written very recently since such terminology was not used even 100 hundred years ago. Which just shows what complete BS the bible is. It has been changed like this for 2000 years by people who want it to suit their own agenda. Bible thumpers such as yourself in fact.

I agree sswhite;.. Our Creator created male and female Genesis 1:27, we,(some of us) were created in His image and we know better that we have to obey His voice, thank you for setting the record straight. There are some people that The Most High have not written the commmandments for nor created the earth for although they are ruling, God said He will bring His judgement and He is quite clear on what He expects from His chosen Elect!. Those that don’t agree with God, the Creator that gave all of us the breath of Life will have to answer when judgment comes!

You really just don’t get it do you? It’s absolutely fine for you to believe whatever you like. No one is denying you that. You just can’t expect that everyone else has to agree with you and your beliefs shouldn’t prohibit anyone else from following theirs. Do you really have an issue with that? Seriously?

sswhite, interesting – since you want to reference the Bible I’m sure you realize that Leviticus bans 76 things and calls many of them abominations. Do you adhere to every one of these rules or are you a “cafeteria Christian” who selectively decides what parts of scripture to obey? The classic “I like this bit so I’ll follow it but I don’t like that bit so I won’t”.

1.6% That’s how much of the US population is gay, however their influence over the world is so tremendous via Hollywood. They have such power that if the 98.4% question this practice they are considered bigots, last century…etc. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr077.pdf

That stat only counts people who identify as gay or lesbian, it doesn’t include bi or those struggling winto their attractions – because of the extreme bias they face it’s unrealistic to assume that number is accurate. Regardless, are you saying the rights of a minimum half a million do not count because they are a minority? A minority, what, five times bigger than our lil old country? And you’re acting like only US gays exist, people are gay in countries even where it is punishable by death – AfghanIstanbul, Uganda, etc. LGBT people have existed for as long as humanity has and have always made up a chunk of population, and it’s pathetic to assume we are all brainwashed by some gay agenda because we allies believe in equality,

@Kayla clearly you do not read the Bible which represents our history and all the nations in the world and their beginnings and endings to come!And why the Almighty Creator caused Hate and put the might in mans hands to do his will..Amos 3:1-21, Don’t be afraid to read what will occur in the day of THE LORD whether you believe or not whether anyone else believes or not , we that are awake can clearly see the prophesies of the Bible being shown up to this present day!

Nope, what we want is that *your* religion and the state/ law to be two separate things. You can’t legislate all of us to follow your religion’s rules, especially because y’all randomly pick and choose which of your religion’s rules you actually give a crap about.

Nobody’s forcing you to stop seeing it as a sin, you can frame it in your religion all you like. It’s your right to have your own independent thoughts on it, and sure, you can hate gays all you want — but that doesn’t mean you’re magically free from being judged for it and immune to my disgust for bigots and people like you.

You want to be the kind of person who denies others their rights and not face any criticism and ire for it, but it doesn’t work like that.

No one is saying that you have to accept their lifestyle, you are welcome to believe as you will. We’re just saying it’s not nice to have laws the force your thinking on the rest of us.

No one is saying that any church will be forced to hold same sex marriages, we just think it’s fine if those churches who want to, and the government allow such events to occur and give the same legal rights as the rest of us.

It’s not that folks (and it’s not the 98.4%… learn how this works) “question this practice”, it’s the fact that religious folks feel that they have a right to demand that other people follow the rules of their religion and to deny rights to others, based on their personal beliefs. You can “question this practice” all you want, but pretending that discriminating against someone else is “questioning this practice” is dishonest. And bigoted. And disgusting.

hmm why don’t you get a Bible and read it for yourself you will be very surprised at what is contained within the most popular book in the world that other nations and the allegarchy are well aware of and have designed this sytem based on the prophesies of the Bible written unto the children of Yisrael, not the jews claiming to be the chosen..

mj, why don’t you get an education, it’ll give you some insight on how you’ve been fooled by an ancient fairy tale written by early man, who thought the earth was flat and was the centre of the universe.

All education stemmed from the tablets, scrolls, translated books ect…MEN constantly miosrepresent the Bible and instead of reading it you read what men opinion is of the Bible, who said the earth was round? Only the Creator can say how he made creation from the beginning no other book comes close to the truth and can actually fulfill the prophesies that have been already fulfilled and continue to this day to be revelations of what was written in the Bible many years ago, I think you need to get an education , start with reading from the beginning, I have certainly been fooled in the past about fairy tales but no longer, the only book that explains ALL Things is the BibleKJV.God calls the Earth his footstool so maybe you need to read and find out the truth instead of relying on scientist who are just “mad” and think for yourself..Why would you have a problem with the very Entity that gave you the breath of life so that you could become a living soul? Mothers deliver us but only the Creator can give us the breath of life which we take for granted every day! No man gave us the breath of Life!

If that were true, we’d be trying to turn water into wine, and afraid we’ll fall off the edge of the flat earth. Once again, educate yourself, not with fairy tales, you’ll have more credibility than you currently do.

We do turn water into wine, we turn water into juice, soda etc, um not looking for credibility and am only representing what the BIBLe says so take up your issue with the book and creation, we would not be falling of the edge of the earth the same way we are not spinning and falling down vomiting from what scientist say is a round earth which they can never measure, keep trying, “mad” scientist were created, they did not and still cannot measure the entire earth and although they say “the eagle has landed” when they so called went to the “moon” that remains a myth..But again the Bible speaks of them that put their nest in the heavens trying to reach The Most High. why do you think missles and bombs were made? for a friendly fire! no! aall in preparation for the end times .. I will not try to convince you further to read you obviously do not quote a source so um done, read the book for yourself unless you are afraid of the Truth!

PBanks.. I spoke of the moon, now you wanna talk about by extension space, we are surrounded by space,I don’t disagree with that, stick to the script, I spoke about the ‘dubious” trip to the moon.I don’t believe everything um told and certainly not from people who are trying to reach the Creator and kill off the earth and ruin it by their so called ‘scientific” experiments that can never match the Powers of THE MOST HIGH.

Don’t try to obscure what I’m talking about with “we’re surrounded by space” comments.

You don’t believe people landed on the moon. Fine. Do you believe there are satellites in orbit? Do you believe there’s a space station in orbit? Do you believe the rover on Mars is real? Do you believe that Voyager is hurtling through outer space sending back images of the great beyond?

Do you believe that the purpose of any of these things, real or imaginary, are to reach or access this Creator?

Good point. After all there are over 400,000 versions of the Bible in existence (that’s versions, not translations) and they don’t necessarily agree with each other.

The major religions can’t even agree on the number of books in the Bible. The Jews have 24 books, the Protestants 39, the Catholics 46, and the Eastern Orthodox have 51. Which is right, which is the perfect one handed down straight from God?

Everyone on this Island were raised by Bible believing families and for years we have had persons who have introduced sinful desires into this Island which many have fallen prey to and we have also had plans to placle this Island into a third world country which many still support -the blind eye and clueless mind leads one to become captive to man’s ideals.

The Promise and Warning of God 2 Chronicles 7:13-14:…13″If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15″Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.…

Biblical facts Children are having children and you are concerned about teen age pregnancy, men, women are and becoming lovers of themselves remember Sodom and Gommorah the Lord destroyed both cities.

Pastors – 2 Timothy 4:1-5 I solemnly charge you…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (NAS)

I am tired of the bible argument as all the “believers” only pick and choose what they want out of the bible. The old testament says I can stone my wife to death for adultery so is that the standard all us Bermudians “brought up with the bible” should set. Let people be people, this highlights Bermudas biggest issue overall and that is the unwillingness to evolve with the rest of the world and excuse the pun, but we are always the last on the boat.

Ah evangelism. Quite possibly the MOST twisted and warped of all religions. Leave the homosexuals alone. They dont bother u. They make and spend their money here like anyone else does. And they have the right to do as they please just like you do. U bible thumpers r more akin to hitler than your precious jesus with the constant hateful crap u lot spew. Enough already.

Well, I was raised on this island and I was not raised by a Bible believing family. Some of my family were devote believers and some weren’t. What they had in common was treating people fairly.

And just for information, while my parents weren’t believers, they felt I needed to be raised within the church and I attended well into my teens by which time I learned that there was a huge difference between those who simply attended church and spoke the word and those who actually lived it.

Bible believers do not believe in any many, maybe christians do but not Bible believers! the bible is not a christian book,. people claiming to be christians may follow a portion but some of us believe and know of the ALmighty Creator who explains all within the volumes of the book quite clearly for those who are sincere about who they are, however it is also clear that the commandments do not apply to all nationalities, why don’t people read the Bible and do research befor condemning the book which all nations are explained in and trust and believe that most other people are well aware of the contents of the Bible and the meaning and Truth that is written..The old Testament in specific was written for a specific group of people but also explains how ALL nationalities came from and where they ended up and why!

No they weren’t…the rest of your post is just as stupid as your opening sentence. Religion is used to control the stupid, uneducated, easily coerced and uninformed, such as yourself. Please keep your silly beliefs to yourself, like your god tells you too. Thanks

Same people out there thumping your bible, same ones who sinning the most, you live in a sinful world, so do get over yourself with this b.s, people gonna do as they please. But please do legalise or decriminalise the herbs first before we do this.

What the religiously devout fail to understand is not everyone believes or wants to believe what they do, and without the – what, three out of context lines in the entire bible against homosexuality there is no real argument against it. We’re overpopulating this planet anyway, gays are the Eco friendly natural solution

Why you so concerned about others, that’s what’s wrong with Christian folk always in someone and everyone else business, and not taking care of your business at home. Your kids be out there doing the most! Shoot don’t get me started! Y’all needa just cool out with all this, and take care of the home front! “Raised on Christian principles” my ***! These are your kids dammnit! Do your job at home first!

It’s quite sad that so many of you will fight for the homosexuals to have the freedom to practice the way they believe is right openly, but when a christain (or whomever) opposes them you try to shut them down and insult them. Don’t Christians have a right to believe what they believe openly without your insult too? Everyone always says that Christains should practice what they preach, we’ll so should you all! You want tolerance than be tolerant!

No problem with Christians practicing their beliefs, BUT WHEN THEY ABUSE RELIGION BY USING IT AS A WEAPON against a part of society BECAUSE THEY PERSONALLY HAVE AN ISSUE, then you have to question their motives.

It’s a weapon because they don’t think something is right and you do? It’s a weapon because they believe strongly that it’s wrong and are vocal? How is that different from you? It’s not a personal opinion. It’s biblical.

Equal rights….is the right to love the same as the right to marriage? Everyone can love whoever they want….even ppl who don’t love them in return. Love is free for everyone. No one controls who you love, but you. Marriage tho…is marriage really the same as love? Are they not two different concepts?

hmm the BIBLE is the weapon of the Chosen not the christians, the bible does not tell anyone to be religious or to be a christian and the Bible speaks against prophets that lie in His name who do not teach their congregation correctly about who they truly are!(Jeremiah 13vs 14!) The Oracles were written to the children of Yisrael and only they can prophesy , if you take time tro read what you don’t understand you may learn something very interesting about yourself that you may not have realized.. All books are free to read, and the bible is not about any secrecy so that the interpretation is clear for those who seek the truth!

Christians already have the right to practice and do as they please. Christians seem to be mad that we do not believe they have the right to oppress others and deny others equal rights based on their personal beliefs, and that we’re critical of such hate coming from those whose very religious doctrine is specifically about loving others and not judging.

There’s more to the bible than not judging and loving. There’s rules and standards to live by. Mind you, it’s not our place to judge anyone or to bang the bible in people’s face. That IS wrong. But when something is wrong and we believe it’s biblically wrong we have the right to stand against it (not support it/not vote in its favor). If others don’t want to hear it, then it’s their right to not listen.

“But when something is wrong and we believe it’s biblically wrong we have the right to stand against it (not support it/not vote in its favor). If others don’t want to hear it, then it’s their right to not listen.”

Conversely, I don’t believe the bible is the word of anyone but early man, I have every right to stand up against those, such as yourself, who use the bible to oppress others….do you understand this?

Again. They can believe whatever they want. What they CAN’T do, what the problem is, is demand that ANYONE else follow the rules of their PERSONAL beliefs. No one is stopping Christians from believing whatever they want. What they take umbrage with is the denial of rights to a group of people based on that belief. And if you want to talk about insulting? How about “You aren’t good enough in my eyes to get married.”? That’s pretty insulting.

This fake victimhood is a false argument. EVERYONE tolerates Christians’ beliefs. No one is denying them any rights or discriminating against them in any way. Christians, however, are, by the definition of this topic, doing exactly that.

Unless you have an argument against marriage equality that doesn’t involve someone having to follow the rules and “laws” of someone else’s religion… ?

This isn’t even really about “practicing” anything, it’s about being able to have the same legal and other benefits to marriage that a married male+female couple would have.

If Christians believe that only a God-sanctioned marriage is legit in their eyes, that’s fine for religious purposes, but attacking same-sex couples for wishing their own form of marriage (often-times completely outside of religion altogether), seems counter-productive.

And when people quote Sodom and Gomorrah, hellfire and brimstone, it tends to come from a place of anger/disgust, not reason.

I read this article twice because it’s something I feel bermudians need to understand a little better, I have friends who are gay, bi-sexual and although I am for same sex marriage we as Bermudians have to see the impact it will have for the island, yes tourism dollars etc will go up but on this Tiny but beautiful island, could you imagine how many same sex couples will want to come here and get married? Could you imagine during summertime having multiple same sex weddings, we don’t want Bermuda to then be seen as a place where same sex couples can come here and in a sense take over the atmosphere in place already. We should be able to find an alternative

Can’t tell whether you’re from Bermuda or just a foreigner reading this from overseas, either or, advertising Bermuda as a ‘friendly tourist destination’ is okay you know why? Because it is! Bermudians are some of the friendliest persons on earth, can’t same sex couples just go get married elsewhere? Why does it have to be in Bermuda? More then happy to welcome them in the island but we don’t need to change the laws just to make a few people happy

do you know the difference between religion and what Our Creator says in the Bible? don’t get it twisted, you did not create yourself and although you may not be the chosen o the Creator to abide by certain laws do not confuse what you belive to be religion and what the Bible states as to how we should live!

the bible is not a religious text, people have made up ways to live based of their own interpolation, the Bible itself speaks of these false prophets and their false teaching also as abominable to God, all will be judged whether we think so, choose so or not The Highest Power in the World has said as much and that is guarenteed’ The Creator doesn’t look at life from our perspective, we can critize all we like, it still doesn’t change what is to come..its better to be forewarned to be armed with the knowledge than to be surprised and dissapointed that what we thought with our little minds was correct.. imagine the child telling the mother how to raise them?

That’s what they used to say about opening up Bermuda’s hotels to black people. “we don’t want Bermuda to then be seen as a place where black people can come here and in a sense take over the atmosphere in place already. We should be able to find an alternative?”

Oh yes God forbid. They ake more money on average than a straight person, which means more disposable income. Its ok for people to use them to decorate their house, throw their wedding, pick out their clothes, but dear Lord no, do not let them get married here!! Read your comment 2 or three times and then ask yourself how stupid does it sound. Change the words same sex to black, or white, or christian…. would you have said something so stunningly stupid about not wanting these groups of people coming here in numbers and flaunting themselves? Bottom line is, money is money, they come, they marry, they spend. They are coming to get married not for your gay virginity!!

But I didn’t use the words black or white? How typical, race is brought into everything on this island, and it’s more sad that you even need to use it as an example. Simple word of advice, I wrote a comment and see some backlash and helps me gain a better understanding and views the perspective I have. But when you bring race into it, to be fair, you’re the problem on the island

Also brought Christianity in as well not just race… but I can take black and white out and use Polish People, or Hungarian People, or Kenyan people to replace the words same sex or gay…. if you replace those words then you can see your comment is completely discriminatory. You wish for our island to discriminate an entire population due to their sexual orientation, which if you do not part take in would have no bearing on you! You are probably one of the ones that think because a person of your sex likes the same sex that they want you. Unlike religion sexual preference isnt about recruitment.

God does hate( Malachi 1vs3) I hope you will read for yourself who God,The Creator of ALL things feels about certain people and their conduct especially towards other people….ALL things come through the creator, including hate! GOd allows and uses certain people to avenge and punish as well, because He is the Creator he can do WHATEVER is HIS WILL! hE aLSO CLEARLY DISCRIMINATES anyone that reads and understands the Bible knows that God does hate all the abominations of the earth and also the abominations against the people that he has called” The apple of His eye”, I encourage you to read the WORD of The Most High..KJV.

Stop the presses – you mean if we allow gay marriages, there might be…gay marriages here?!1?!1?1!1?1? Gay marriages aren’t pride parades fromthe 80s, honey. They’e pretty standard affairs, just double the bride or double the groom and it’s the same old same old otherwise.

“Could you imagine during summertime having multiple same sex weddings? We don’t want bermuda to then be seen as a place where same sex couples can come here and, in a sense, take over the atmosphere in place already.”

Okay, I can imagine the weddings and what a wonderful image, smiling happy people committing their lives to one another in front of friends and family.

But… uhmmmm…. the rest? Take over the atmosphere? What exactly are you expecting them to do? Paint everything pink? (Wait… this is Bermuda and pink is already popular) Or maybe rainbow colours? Sprinkle glitter into our pink sanded beaches, walk around in leather and mostly naked? Or maybe hold hands on the street?

Seriously, you’ve got me on this one, how the heck can gay people change the atmosphere of a country?

I read this article twice because it’s something I feel bermudians need to understand a little better, I have friends who are black, hi-yella and although I am for interracial marriage we as Bermudians have to see the impact it will have for the island, yes tourism dollars etc will go up but on this Tiny but beautiful island, could you imagine how many interracial couples will want to come here and get married? Could you imagine during summertime having multiple interracial weddings, we don’t want Bermuda to then be seen as a place where interracial couples can come here and in a sense take over the atmosphere in place already. We should be able to find an alternative

Don’t you just love when everyone sits behind a computer and acts like their doing something meanwhile I know the people who actually are trying to change things and have no support from the community

I support same-sex marriage, never said that I didn’t

Just wanted to see if people would actually care enough to respond to my ignorance, now since you have let’s see you all start changing your status or helping out those who are trying to get something done

Rather then act mr tough guy behind a computer screen

And another thing, stop bringing race into everything! Who cares if someone is black, white, green or blue! We are all equal and that should never be mentioned

Why is it wrong? You seem to think you have the correct viewpoint, but you’re wrong!

I don’t think you should get married or breed, but I would never go out of my way to stop you, yet you think you have a right to stop others from living their lives. You’re a hypocrite, selfish and hateful.

Leviticus which also says that anyone cursing their parents should be put to death. which also says that anyone committing adultery must be put to death. which also says that an unmarried woman who is not a virgin should be put to death. (Yet the bible also has Mary who was not a virgin before she married.) Which also says that if you work on Sunday you should be put to death. which also condones having slaves, referring to them as property. which also advocates eating locusts, but not pigs, rabbit, mussels, conchs, clams, lobster, etc.

In the end, Leviticus is an interesting book, and if you want to take one part of it to heart, I suggest you take all of it to heart and see how you make out…

Yes, I’ve read it, first of all a virgin is a young lady who is of marriageable age, just because men changed words in dictionaries, continuosly updating them so that we could be confused about meanings of certain things don’t be fooled, and Sunday is not the day that is the sabbath ,God said the seventh day is the Sabbath and in hard bondage of slavery we were whipped if we didn’t keep the sabbath, yes the bible speaks of slavery and many other things, please read to rightfully divide the truth and understand at what times these things took place and what nations were being spoken to and of.I take everything that is revealed to me by the Most High seriously, ALL of it.. I encourage you to read to understand not just to quote.And no I don’t eat pork, swine or shell fish or anything that could make me sick!Everything is for a purpose and is good sound advice to them that have an ear let him hear.

Yes, in proper translation a virgin is a woman who is not married, but by that definition all women who are marrying age but aren’t should be stoned.

Anyway, you’ve actually proven what I was saying.

There are a lot of things in the Bible which no longer have relevance in today’s world. The problem is, for people who follow the Bible’s teachings, that one can’t say ‘we must do it because it’s in the Bible’ for one thing, but dismiss it for something else because it makes them, personally, uncomfortable.

Why is it no longer okay to have slaves but consider gays to be abominations? In both instances we’re talking about people who deserve to be treated with respect and given, by law, common human rights.

Marriage is a government contract, you can not, in any way, shape or form get leagally married in a religious ceremony / church without FIRST passing the government procedure. Marriage in the modern world has nothing to do with religion or culture and everything to do with economic sustainability.

This is not a religious issue but a legislative one.

Separation of Church and State is the single most important advancement in modern human history – this separation is the reason we have human rights, equal rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion (irony 101), etc.

Point is that Christians turn away anyone and everyone that doesn’t believe what they believe, wrong? No I didn’t think so, you have a person of another believe confront them they shut them down, don’t listen to them and say oh your of the devil. Y’all soo brain washed that, you don’t even know what you believe in, you believe in murder, you believe in adultery, you believe in theft, everything you say you don’t do, your religion portrays. Point blank sit down read your book for what it is.

Its simple really let them do what they want on the cruise ships not on island. Oh and the gay community needs to realise that its them that are pushing thier lifestyle on the rest of us, not the oter way around.

Seems like the bible thumpers are pushing their “lifestyle” onto everyone that doesn’t think like them. I don’t mind if you want to marry someone of the opposite sex….just do it elsewhere, I don’t want to see it. i don’t mind if you want to hold a person of the opposite sex hand or kiss them, just don’t do it in public, I don’t want to see it….you’re pushing your lifestyle onto me and it make me feel icky.

Are you fighting for the rights of every individual? Or just a certain group?

The reason there is no same sex marriages in Bermuda is because it would need a vote, and by choice more people choose to believe that homosexuality is wrong. You can try and force people to believe otherwise, but they don’t have to.

I would say that in Bermuda there a few people other than the few gays that are the least bit concerned that 2 gay people cannot get married here.

Yes. I do fight for the rights of everyone. Why do you ask? As for “forcing people”? The only ones forcing anything are the ones forcing their personal beliefs onto us and denying rights to their fellow citizens.

You … may believe everything that is written in our history books, some of us understand that ancient history is a lot of guesswork and trusk in the perspective of a couple of people who could write, and even modern history is shaped by bias.

Well, it clearly indicates in the Koran that the Muslim version is the final version of Christianity so please reference the Koran vs. the Bible please as the Koran is the updated version of the bible.

but feel some relief as they kept the “we (sorry i meant he, oh sorry again did not mean he, as thats a human concept, it, or god, or Allah) don’t like gays” part pretty constant.

The Bible doesn’t need updating and the Koran took its information from the Bible apparently, the Books of the Bible date back to the Sumerain tablets, does any other book tell us creation from the beginning or prophesy and tell about events before they happen and they have happened and continue to happen but because you don’t read the Bible you cannot see that it describes true history of all peoples!

You can believe any mumbo jumbo you like, but let’s not try to pretend the bible is a history book. It’s a bunch of stories, translated, edited and re-written over time. Nothing more. It is not factual, amd cannot be taken literally. It is a collection of parables, some more absurd than others.

can you deny slavery? can you deny that people were divided and still are to this day? can you deny that the so called jews in Israel who claimed to be the promised children have not been sent back to Ukraine(mount seir really) the area where they came from? Can you deny the hurricanes, tornadoes ect that have been going on and various weather patterns that ONLY THE CREATOR said he would bring although he would not destroy the earth again by water .. can you deny what was prophesied in the Bible? No! coz we know what time it is..and I am not a christian, I do read the Bible though and its clear as crystal.

Those who are religous have a right to express their views and those who are not religous have that same right. What’s important is that those who are in power to make laws and policies that govern everyone in society must do so without the influence of religion. This is because not everyone believes the same thing. We live in a democracy not a theocracy. Leave the preaching and bible teaching for the church. Parliament is where everyone should get justice.

I don’t care if gays do their thing in the privacy of their own homes just as I don’t care if heterosexuals do the same. But I don’t want to see it forced upon all of socity through law that legalizes it or see the acts of homosexuality in public and I don’t want my children seeing it or thinking it is normal; it’s not, it is a preversion of nature. I surely don’t want a law to be enacted allowing marriage which will then lead to other enforcements such as requirements that it be taught in our schools and forced upon us that it is normal and okay.

For those of you who are going to say “…oh no you homophobe!..etc…etc..” then let me give you this to think about. If two men or two women were meant to be together then nature would have evolved having only one sex. As it stands a male and a female is normal in nature; a male and a male or a female and a female are not; it’s a preversion of nature’s norm.

Wikipedia definition: “…Perversion is a type of human behavior that deviates from that which is understood to be orthodox or normal. Although the term perversion can refer to a variety of forms of deviation, it is most often used to describe sexual behaviors that are considered particularly abnormal, repulsive or obsessive…”

So NO. I hope our twisted politicians don’t legislate gay marriage and use it as yet another opportunity to buy votes.

People think before you act. Would you like your son or daughter coming home saying “.. hi this is my boyfriend or girlfriend…and thinking it’s normal?

Wikipedia definition: “…Perversion is a type of human behavior that deviates from that which is understood to be orthodox or normal. Although the term perversion can refer to a variety of forms of deviation, it is most often used to describe sexual behaviors that are considered particularly abnormal, repulsive or obsessive…”

Subjugation of the weak and vulnerable, i.e slavery was the norm, not taking slaves was a Perversion of the norm. I assume you are against the abolition of slavery?

Also, I can only assume you are a male as no God fearing female would dare utter her naive and uneducated thoughts without the express permission of a male in this public forum.

@strating point: Please attempt to concentrate and place all of your attention span on the subject of this post. The abolition of salvery has zero to do with the proposition of homosexual marriage. And assuming will lead you astray. Now do you have any enlightening comments to share or rebute?

It has to do with your argument, that just because something is a ‘perversion’ aka outside of the norm – means it is bad and unacceptable. Their point is historically a lot of bad things, aka slavery, were considered normal and commonplace and being against them then would also be by your strange argument a perversion and thus bad.

Picking apart you sad attempt at critical thinking is a perfect valid response to you, but you’re not even bright enough to follow your own silly argument and see the big gaping holes. To break it down further, Just because something lies outside the norm doesn’t make it bad since ‘the norm’ is a constantly moving thing, and many things that were once normal aren’t anymore and vice versa. Get it, slowpoke?

Actually homosexual behaviors are completely natural and found in many other animal species, and historically have been documented in humans across all cultures…You certainly won’t ever find anyone who actually studies nature arguing that weak nonsense about gay/lesbian pairings being ‘unnatural’.

Wait do you think the end game is that we’re all going to be forced to become gay or something?

What exactly would be ‘forced on us’ by allowing gay people to marry each other?

There already are public indecency laws which include “acts of homosexuality” in public, so what’s going to change there?

As for the “taught in schools” angle, it’s a fact of life that there are gay men and women among us, some are in relationships. It’s already there. If your child observes someone holding the hand or kissing someone of the same gender, you’re going to have to discuss it with them if they ask about it anyway. If you think it’s unnatural or perverse, you’re still going to convey that message to your child.

fred you nailed it…they know exactly what they are trying to do and these people who think what they do is normal try to make the rest of us straight thinking minded people believe them sand to accept what they do as OK. We ok it then they will say you allowed us to and now its nothing you can do about it. I dont want my children to see the nastiness they do in public. I am not christian or homophobic. also How did this topic go from about this gay marriage to human right coming out of these peoples mouths? You was already born with human rights you just wants laws passed to cover your nasty life style which you all know is wrong. If it wasn’t so wrong why do you all needs rights? Why was you afraid to just come out and let your friends and family know? Cause you all were scared and you all still are cause its just wrong nothing right about no matter how you slice it. There is nothing you all can say or do to convince me that being gay is natural. Can you imagine if everyone was gay, the Earth will not have any human beings after a few years.

Actually it’s not a perversion of nature, it’s a pretty common practice found straight down through human history, in every culture that I’m aware of, and through one heck of a lot of animal species, including dolphins, swans, and different species of apes.

Forget about religion lets look at what the institution of marriage is and what it was constituted on…Marriage is and has always been between a man and a woman,since its beginning marriage has ALWAYS been a heterosexual institution.Marriage goes along with a straight lifestyle, and from that marriage children are born,and are taught to marry the opposite sex and continue ect ect….Now A homosexual is not a heterosexual and a homosexual is constituted on the same sex. Marriage has never been part of the homosexual life, the homosexual life could never produce children. If you look at the Etymology of the word marriage you will find that it relates to a man and woman coming together. If you are a true homosexual you want absolutly nothing to do with a heterolsexual lifestyle at all. The straight person does not borrow or do anything thing that a homosexual person does that defines themselves. You would never find a straight person having sex with the same sex or attracted to the same sex, or wanting to live with the same sex in a relationship. That is a true straight person, they stick to what they are..straight!.. What is confusing to me is , if you are a homosexual and you are a true homosexual why would you want to practice something that is not and has never been part of your lifestyle? You are homosexual ..ok..now that that is known and we know who you are , why do you now want to adopt the heterosexual lifestyle? That is very oxymoranic and a huge contradictory to your homosexual life. I dont hate homosexuals you are my brothers and sisters all im saying is be true to your self and your nature, a bus driver who has been a bus driver for 30 years cannot turn around and call themselves a rocket scientist without going to school and excelling in physics and if they have then they would be a bus driver/rocket scientist …so if you borrow from the institution of heterosexuality then that would make you a confused homosexual, and confused about your own nature.

No. It hasn’t. Do a LITTLE research before you try to pass something off as fact. The bible, in fact, defines marriage in many different ways, including polygamy, rapists and in-laws. It has also condoned, through the ages, “the homosexual lifestyle”.

You know what? I’m not going to waste my time. You won’t respond, you’ll just ignore any facts and reality and go on spewing ignorance, lies and mistruths.

It’s sad that you have to be THIS dishonest in order to back up your beliefs. What does it say about those beliefs?

wow i read what ombudsman said and i agree fully Mike Hind just by saying he/she is wrong completely and utterly and filled with mistruths and false facts doesn’t make it so …he made sense to me..and marriage IS a since its beginning was between man and woman and never between same sexes that was factual and correct ……what proof do you have to say the the ombudsman is wrong?

don’t forget the punishments that came about as a result of the perversness recorded in the Bible from the time of Sodom and Gomorrah which is why God destroyed the earth at that time, this very same topic of what is now called “homosexuality” otherwise know as SOdomy in the Bible.. It would have been the end of creation if God allowed the behaviour to continue and He showed His displeasure by destroying everything by water which is an Historical fact!

huh? Genesis 19;1,24-26,.. Lots wife turned into a pillar of salt that remains in that area to this day and sulphur covers the area where Sodom and Gomorrah are.. also Noahs ark was found in mt Ararat(Turkey) Genesis 8vs 4)research for yourself..The Most High does not lie, but men do.They have changed times , dates and conditions for what? to deceive..The power of satan is also strong and maybe some people might get confused but those that seek truth will find it.

Ok. I will not debate the fact that you may or may not agree with the petition that is mentioned in this article. I do not agree with this as I am a Christian. Yes, I see in the article that I, along with other Christians have been called names, etc. Feel free to call me as many names as you like. This is not going to change that fact that God holds this lifestyle as an abomination. Bemuda is travelling down a slippery slope. I will continue to pray for our island home with the rest of my brothers and sisters in Christ that God will have mercy on us. Please don’t forget…God sees all and one day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…Petition or not!

reread what i said ..and nowhere where you ever find a muslim saying the Quran is a new version of the Bible..it is a confirmation and a continuation of scripture ……study it and you will see …better yet just google it

Do you believe that other people should be forced to obey the laws of your religion? If so, would you be ok with being forced to obey the laws of another religion? If not, why should religion be even remotely part of this subject?

I wasn’t going to comment with so many already, but said what the heck. Alright you are GAY. FINE. That’s YOUR BUSINESS. NOT NOBODY Elses. Keep it in your own HOME. Don’t have it all out there for my GRANDKIDS and ALL the OTHER IMPRESSIONABLE LITTLE KIDS to see. Let them grow up normal and if they choose that life once they become adults then so be it. But don’t flunt your lifestyle in my grandchildrens face. KEEP IT IN YOUR HOUSE.

I wasn’t going to comment with so many already, but said what the heck. Alright you are CHRISTIAN. FINE. That’s YOUR BUSINESS. NOT NOBODY Elses. Keep it in your own HOME. Don’t have it all out there for my GRANDKIDS and ALL the OTHER IMPRESSIONABLE LITTLE KIDS to see. Let them grow up normal and if they choose that life once they become adults then so be it. But don’t flunt your lifestyle in my grandchildrens face. KEEP IT IN YOUR HOUSE.

jennifer, I don’t think you know what the word ‘fact’ means, you see, there is no god, and your bible is just a fairy tale written to control the ignorant. You can believe in whatever you want, please don’t peddle your beliefs onto others. Thanks.

@ Jennifer: Excuse me, (and countless others) but can you or and other brothers or sisters in Christ tell us who’d been that created these Gay/Lesbian people? Remember, God created all men and women in “his image”.

Yes, he created and gave will to and also commandments to certain ones, God also allowed certain things to take plae because of the choices we made against Him He has set aside punishment which is to soon come to ALL people who Hate Him and His People! Everyone has an opportunity to change their ways if you look around the world and see what is happening it is total chaos as far as moral stability The Devil is a very real component in all of this lest we forget God gave him power to rule for a time and we are still in that time OBVIOUSLY! God is not a God of confusion and therefore all things will come to pass before He appears and we see that the time will be near when it appears to be Sodom again, and so it is,…

“The Devil is a very real component in all of this lest we forget God gave him power to rule for a time and we are still in that time OBVIOUSLY! God is not a God of confusion and therefore all things will come to pass before He appears etc.” As you’ve stated,(the bible states) that God gave Satin the power to rule for a time…If God has such power then why not eliminate the devil from jump street instead of allowing so much ignorance to go on from the very beginning and causing billions of “people” to suffer…Does the God like to make people suffer? and why has “God” allowed this mess to continue…Where is the love?

The Creator can do whatever His will is first of all , coz he created ALLL things and he gave the devil a time because he wanted to teach His people a lesson not to turn away from Him and to show us His Power,.. do you honestly think that we were just created to do whatever we feel like it? do you honestly think that there is not a Higher Power ruling over even those in power? do you not understand that we are not capable of making a blade of grass to grow, we as flesh cannot brag about putting stars in the Heavens? God explains “love” as obeying His commandments and for His people to study, to read the WOrd, to stay away from the heathen ways,.. We cannot change our sex, our nationality, and our parents.. Thats because the Creator decided on that!Our blood was given to us by The Creator, which is why when Cain killed Abel, God said his blood cried out to Him from the ground(genesis 4;10) Even til today all of the blood of those that were slain cry out to Him and he knows our very thoughts, He will do everything in His time, same way mothers cannot force babies to arrive, they are born when ready and formed in the womb..

Jennifer that is fine. But being religious should not give you any more reason than anyone else to get your way. Why should it matter to you if gays get married? And if it does bother you, why should you being religious give you an edge in getting your way.

Religion should be about tolerance – but all too often it is about getting one’s own way – and your comments have proven that.

I have not problem with homosexuals wanting to live together and have a recognised union. I do, however, have a problem with homosexual’s trying to take over something that is specifically for a man and woman. I would fully support civil unions for homosexuals, however, there then comes another problem. If homosexual’s are granted civil unions then they will start to push for marriage.

Maybe it’s all semantics, then. JimBob, in your eyes what difference(s) would there be between a civil union and a marriage? What legal or financial or other differences would appear within those two contracts?

Why is it specifically for a man and woman? Is there a reason to deny them rights or treat them “separate but equal” that ISN’T based on someone having to follow the rules of someone else’s personal religion?

When there was all the talk about adding sexual orientation to the Human Rights Act I said it will only be a matter of time because homosexual people start pushing for them to be able to get married. Well well well…….

God did create man in His own image. He made man and women only for the marrigae covenant. As I said, I’m not going to debate this. If you wish to sign the petition, that is completely up to you. I will go on record, stand and say that I do not agree most of you. As I stated, every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Petition or not!

why try and Force a way on people that dont accept it? It will never stop until these people want special laws for themselves,…already the human rights law was amended and they still act as if society should accept their lifestyle, man on man and woman on woman is a lifestyle that brings NO life into this world and is not and will never be accepted by the majority….

Ombudsman, you’ve forced your hateful lifestyle on us for a long time, time for you to accept everyone now…it’s called evolving as a human being. Why would you ban marriage between men and women who were biologically incapable of procreating? why do you support the right to have children out of wedlock, as so many in bermuda do? Why do you dwell on `man on man` and `women on women` so much? I suspect it turns you on Bigots like you are a dying bread, your acceptance by society is dwindling.

God is an imaginary boogaloo man who was created to control people – a bit like Santa Claus. Behave and you’ll get something nice. Only with Santa you get it at Christmas and with God you get it after you die. Muslims who kill a lot of people get 72 virgins apparently.

I’d be perfectly willing to believe in God if there was the slightest bit of evidence that he exists.

@cjames- you are misrepresenting what the Bible actually says and what you ahve been told, God did not promise life after death, as it is appointed unto men to die once! some words have duplicious meanings, study for yourself and don’t just believe what you hear, GOD IS NOTHING LIke Santa clause!If you think God is just imagination, then imagine there is no oxygen to breathe…

I see so many people commenting about our anti-gay laws, like Mike Hind. The Government writes law, so why do you keep talking about religion?

In the article, it say’s 6/10 Bermudians do not support gay marriage.

I am trying to figure out what really is your problem, people in Bermuda do not want gay marriage.

Putting the religion aside, politics, whatever the hell else we come up with, it doesn’t matter. The people do not want it. If you are that hard pressed, go live in a place where it is legal.

I was not raised a christen, however I respect and believe in God. However, as a Bermudian, living in Bermuda with gay family members on both sides, I disagree with gay marriage. Not because religion, it’s because that’s how I feel.

” The Government writes law, so why do you keep talking about religion?”

Because those protesting equal rights use religion as a crutch to prevent all from receiving the same basic rights. This is called bigotry.

“In the article, it say’s 6/10 Bermudians do not support gay marriage.

I am trying to figure out what really is your problem, people in Bermuda do not want gay marriage”

No, 6 out of 10 bermudians are bigots, 4 out of 10 want equality. What is your problem?

“I was not raised a christen, however I respect and believe in God. However, as a Bermudian, living in Bermuda with gay family members on both sides, I disagree with gay marriage. Not because religion, it’s because that’s how I feel.”

Good for you, I feel the opposite. Why should your bigoted opinion trump my desire for equality under the law?

accepting a sinful life is what led the world into the dark ages …homosexuality is a sin yes, however everyone sins its just that they are very bold with their sin. What is next if you can accept that sexuality then you have to accept ALL sexualities the fact that you call it the LGTB shows discrimination against the Heterolsexual sexuality, if you dont like to be discriminated against why would you seek SPECIAL laws for just the LGTB why not LBTBH? However where do we draw the line? There are many perverse sexual lifestyles ….is the LGTB against Mother and son marrying or gay brother and brother or gay father and son , or gay mother and daughter…what about their right to marry should we be fighting for their rights as well?

Is there no lows you won’t stoop to to defend your hate? Your entire post has been debunked so many times, there should be a macro so we just have to hit a button to respond to it. You truly should be ashamed of yourself.

Zevon , what did we evolve from, and please do not say apes, where did they come from? and the flowers and trees that grow,a nd the fish that swim in the ocean? did they evolve out of what? we all came through water but who provides the Life source which gives us a Spirit and Soul.? please explain

lol, mj, your ‘source’ is a story book written by man, thousands of years ago…but you dismiss modern science…the same science that allows you to reveal your ignorance to the world on the internet. I have no time for intellectually dishonest people like you.

Matthew 22vs 29-40 -Jesus answered and said unto them..Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God,For in the Resurrection they neither marry , nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven. but as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God o Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living,” cont fromchapter 33-46 if you would like.

I don’t dismiss modern science I just know who provides the wisdom to Create and and who is ruling at this time, I am not impressed with the scientist more than I am impressed with the one that Created Him, but obviously there is no point in trying to convince you, I hope you will not dismiss the book that can explain who the scientist are, and their purpose.

So you think it all started with Adam and Eve? Ok, let’s discuss it for a moment. I’ll humour you if you’ll humour me. How did their children have children? Wouldn’t that have been incest? Why didn’t god think about that? Did he deliberately put them in position where they had to procreate with their siblings? Isn’t that a disgusting idea?

Homosexuality is an abomination. However we as humans can not judge the next man…saying that one day we will all meet our creator and he will judge us. Remember that the seed you plant today is what you reap in your future.!

i jus wanna say to both sects, the church vs homosexuality…the true follower of God should already know that YOU cannot save anybody but yourself and the homosexual(like many others) chooses to veer off of the path we all share at their own peril. jus remember therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will escape notice, and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by.

ombudsman, typical of you so called christian types who are constantly thinking of the most perverse scenarios. On another note, it’s very telling that the vast majority of paedophiles are straight people who identify as christian.

You do realize you’re defending incest, right? You get that, right? In you desperation to discriminate and get your way, you’re actually pretending to be pro incest. That is how low you’ve sunk. Think about that for a second.

These are not ad hominem so. The speak directly to your vile argument, defending and promoting incest. You are so desperate that you’ve stooped to a level so low that you, in your frenzy to push your religious agenda on the rest of the country, are actually denouncing someone for saying incest is wrong. That’s what you are doing here. You’re actually standing up to someone for saying that incest is wrong. You. You’re doing that.

(And… From a legal standpoint, family members already have the rights and privileges that marriage provides, you idiot. See, THAT was an ad hominem.)

I suspect that many of those who voice their opposition to same sex marriage , do so on a theoretical level , without the benefit of knowing any same sex couples . I attended a wedding of two women in the states . They had been in a multi year monogamous relationship , and are now raising adopted children in a loving home . Legal recognition of their relationship has nothing to do with tearing down social norms . It is instead a necessary step in securing the same legal rights of parental status and inheritance automatically enjoyed by heterosexual couples . Trying to argue that legal same sex marriage promotes promiscuity and the homosexual lifestyle is nonsense . Trying to argue that homosexuality is a choice is simply ignorant . Well done Tony . It is about time the public stood up and corrected this archaic law .

Mike you need to be talking with your OBA MPs if this matter is so dear to your heart. Change will only take place via a change of the law and vote in the house Since I last looked OBA has that power. Any further debate needs to take place there. So your beef needs to be with your beloved OBA.

And here’s a few more. Why do you guys always have to resort to these dishonest tactics? It’s sickening and REALLY not good for our country. If I thought you were even a little bit serious about having a conversation and not just trying to pathetically score cheap political points, I’d engage with you. But since it’s obvious you aren’t, I’ll just dismiss you with a shrug.

Hey Mike Hind , Bermudas resident Strummer , let me say that it’s a real pleasure to have you back with us . Now in your mind perhaps that’s not a valid statement , but who cares . It didn’t go unnoticed that you disappeared after your OBA premier resigned in disgrace , that was May 2014 . Some said that because you were one of the more vociferous OBA bloggers of all time , it was par for the course . However I , Coffee defended you . ….. Of course Mike , your financial /job prospects have absolutely nothing to do with Coffee ! In fact I wish you well , because your OBA is creating plenty of keyboarding jobs for the likes of you .

Wow. You are just incapable of speaking anything even remotely resembling the truth, aren’t you? I stopped posting here because I got sick of trying to have a real conversation with people like you who are willing to stoop to any low, literally say ANYTHING to promote their political agenda, to lie, to slander, to libel, in order to get your way. I used to post here because I thought I was having a discussion, but I realized that all I was doing was banging my head against the wall with insane people who don’t understand what truth and honesty and integrity are. Take you for example. Sitting at your computer, hiding under your little hood of anonymity, taking pathetic potshots against anyone that doesn’t toe your party’s line in a weak and sad attempt to defame them. You have proven, again and again, that you have no integrity and are nothing more than a sad little troll, too scared to come out from under the rock you hide under like a worm. I am not, nor have I ever been, an OBA member or supporter. But you know this because it’s been explained to you hundreds of times, but you don’t care about that, do you. You’re just here to try to push your political agenda by any means necessary, no matter how dishonest. You’re pathetic and you are exactly what’s wrong with politics in our country. Why you hate Bermuda so much, I don’t know, but it’s obvious you do. I just wish you’d try honesty for once.

I find it peculiar that christians believe that God is the Alpha and Omega but trust that he has no control over creating Gay people, that it was done by someone/ something else. I am a christian and i have gay friends and family and my God loves all. The bible is a bunch of of stories written by those who “heard” the story or “translated” it to the best of their ability. There is on underlying factor that people forget in the holy book, God asks us to love ALL, yet no one wants to speak about that. Wasn’t it God who stated “Do not call i what i have made clean unclean”? Majority of people need to wake up and accept people for who they are. We are losing enough lives as it is. I for one will not add to what i think is ignorance GOD IS LOVE! FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR HIS CHILDREN!!

A REAL marriage is a very “sacred” institution – that has been around for thousands of years – and I am NOT a “Bible thumper”!! It MUST be respected as the ONLY type of marriage that society accepts!! Try this BS in a lot of African countries – Russia and ALL the Muslim countries and see what happens!!!

Why should 15% of the population dictate to the other MAJORITY 85% of the population – about their beliefs, traditions and the LAWS OF THE LAND??? That is the BIG problem in today’s out-of-control world

Oh you mean like how the wealthy 1% dictates how all us 99% live our lives

or how interracial marriage was illegal should that not change too maybe we made a mistake on that one

YES!!! CONFORMITY IS THE KEY TO PROGRESS ….. lets all never change again ….*eye roll*

and what to you constitutes as a real marriage because i know homosexual couples who have realer marriages that most hetero couples ……without even being married

@Mike Hind you have the best comments on here i see you repeating yourself a lot and i think its time to save your typing fingers because i am yet to see an argument from the religious side to justify why …. without them quoting the bible.

Thanks for the kind words! I’ll keep up with the repeating of the question, though, typing fingers be damned! I think it’s the only important point in the whole discussion and I HOPE that maybe someone or several someones will maybe read it and maybe think “you know what? Maybe I DON’T have the right to expect other people to obey the rules of my personal choice of religion…”

The comments here have proven beyond a shadow of doubt that religious folk use religion to manipulate people and get their own way. It is completely disgusting. Religion is the thing that should be banned.

okay calm down Pinocchio. Neither would I or the majority of the people arguing on this site (who are likely majority heterosexual) but that does not mean that we can stop someone else from doing so. I think a “REAL man” would be someone who isn’t afraid of change and who can accept the differences in the people around him without throwing a fit. It’s so pre-school… “He is different. he cant play with us. no. go away.”

Personally, I think God has a lot to account for. He is the worlds worst mass murderer, and he also created cancer in children. He has ultimate power yet still allows the devil to do his stuff. I believe that schools should ban all teachings about this guy.

And the responses here show exactly why we shouldn’t attack religion. It allows the homophobes to hide behind their false victimhood and to change the subject to whether or not religion is valid, when what we should actually be talking about is whether someone’s personal choice of religion should be allowed to deny rights to other people.

They never answer that question because they know, deep down that they are in the wrong and have to use some of the most disgusting and vile twists of logic to justify their hate. There are actually people on here defending and promoting incest in a pathetic attempt to denounce the argument of tolerance and equal rights!

Don’t give them any ammo. Let them expose themselves as the cowardly, hate-filled, arrogant worms that they are.